A local’s guide to Malaysia

In the “Ask a local” series we talk to natives to get the best insights and travel advice on a particular destination. In this article we’ve talked to Alan about Malaysia!

About Alan and Malaysia

Where in Malaysia are you from?

Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru

What do you do for a living?

Director for Logistics Company

What do you enjoy most about Malaysia?

The multi-ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions – We have 3 major ethnicities; Malay, Chinse and Indian. We still very much preserve our own languages, cultures and traditions, and we call ourselves Malaysians.

The Food – Due to the multi-ethnic community, we have exposure to all sorts of cuisine, such as Chinese, Indian, Malay. Each of them have their own unique cooking styles and taste. There is great diversity within the food culture, as it is made up of so many different ingredients and flavors. Example of foods you should try are nasi lemak, char koay teow, roti canai, teh tarik, cendol, satay, chicken rice, keropok lekor and bak kut teh!

The Weather – Malaysia has a tropical climate, and it is the ideal place for those who love summer. The climate of the country allows people to go at the beach and enjoy water and sun any time they like. The average day-time temperature is around 32 celsius, while the average night time temperature is around 24 celsius.

Will someone visiting Malaysia get by only speaking English?

Malaysia is former British colony. Generally, you should not have any problems traveling by speaking in English, as the English language is one of the mandatory subjects in school for all Malaysian kids.

Is Malaysia a safe country? Anything to watch out for?

Malaysia is a safe place to travel. However, you will still look after yourself same as when traveling elsewhere in the world. Every countries and cities have their safety issues , just be aware of your surroundings, be more alert of people around you, avoid back lanes or alleys area and you should be doing fine.

Malaysia is an ethnically diverse country with various cultures and religions co-existing in peace and harmony. What do you think is the reason for such good relations between Malaysia’s different ethnic groups?

The government has taken the efforts to promote One Malaysis Concept, and to ensure that students are constantly exposed and infiltrated with ideas about multicultural understanding and diversity awareness.

Places to go and things to try

What are the must-see places in Malaysia?

If you are in Malaysia these are the cities that you should not miss. Each of them has their own historical value:

Penang

Ipoh

Kuala Lumpur

Malacca

Are there any cheap places for great value in Malaysia?

Malaysia is considered a cheap and affordable place to visit, and you may get simple food as cheap as 1 US Dollar.

If money was no object, where would you go (or stay) in Malaysia?

If money is not taken into consideration, you may choose to stay in 4-5 stars hotels, which have affordable prices in Malaysia. For 80 US dollars you can manage to find a very nice hotel to stay in.

Malaysia is famous around the world for its cuisine. What are the foods or drinks someone visiting Malaysia should try?